City boy racks up most expensive bar bill in the world

A young financier splashed out over £200,000 on drinks at a Liverpool nightclub, breaking the world record for the highest bill ever paid in a club.

PlayGround club owner George Panayiotou with the Midas. Credit: Splash

23-year-old Alex Hope spent £125,000 on a 30-litre Midas bottle of Armand de Brignac, known as Ace of Spades – the world’s most expensive bottle of Champagne.

The 45kg bottle had to be carried to the table by two waiters.

He spent a further £80,000 on other Champagnes, vodka, beer and mixers for guests including Manchester City footballers Joe Hart and Adam Johnson and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney’s wife Coleen at the PlayGround nightclub at Liverpool’s Hilton Hotel.

Hope also ordered a further 40 75cl bottles of Armand de Brignac – the Champagne endorsed by rapper Jay-Z, and handed them out to single women in the club.

One clubber observed: “He didn’t seem to be drinking a lot and looked totally sober.”

The £204,000 bill, including an £18,500 tip, is thought to be the highest ever paid in a club, beating the £170,000 paid last June by professional US gambler Don Johnson at the One For One nightclub in London’s Park Lane.

“It caused a bit of a stir. We have some of the best Champagnes in the world, but nothing like that. Everyone was talking about it and wondering who on earth this guy could be,” admitted one member of staff.

The day after, Hope boasted on his website: “Just opened the world’s largest Ace of Spades bottle at the PlayGround. Great night! Miami Next!”

After just three years in finance, Hope is well known in the industry as a high flyer, and has been tipped by many to become one of the biggest traders in London.

13 Responses to “City boy racks up most expensive bar bill in the world”

Men are like Bordeaux wines, the older they get, the better they are! A young of 23 is not and shall never be ready to act with a wise attitude. Well done for making the finance sector looking as childish as ever: they simply do not get the message, don’t they?

I think the drinks industry must take some responsibility for their decision to produce, market and sell these super-glactic-delux beverages which are produced purely for gangsters and people with more money and sense to parade how rich they are. The price does not reflect the quality of the beverage inside the bottle, merely the price which the highest bidder is willing to pay to flaunt their wealth. Don’t even get me started on the banking industry…

Wow, this is like the film ‘cocktail’ mixed with ‘wall street’. I thought these kind of irresponsible stories, with added receipts for proof were done with 4 years ago. Who is paying someone who is 23 so much money – and why is he wasting it on footballers? Do some good with your life son and help those less fortunate than yourself. You can get a nice prosecco for £9.99 in Sainsbury’s.

“Help those less fortunate than you”. You sound like Pres. Oblaima, Crystal Lover. He did. He gave 40 single women a 750 of Ace Of Spades. He must have earned the money by anticipating market changes. Some consider that work!!

Jim,
Thank you for your brilliant commentary. I remember in the New Testament where Jesus tells his followers to give money to the poor or “just give 40 single women a 750 of Ace Of Spades because, you know, it’s basically the same thing.”
You’re awesome Jim and, as a supporter of President Obama myself, I am happy to see that you are on the other side of the aisle.